The Sworn Sword

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The Sworn Sword
TheSwornSword.jpg
Graphic Novel
Author George R. R. Martin
Country United States
Language English
Series A Song of Ice and Fire
Genre(s) Fantasy
Publisher Dabel Brothers Productions
Released 2003 (novella in Legends II anthology
2 July 2008 (the graphic novel)
Media Type Original novella in Legends
Pages 152
ISBN ISBN 0785126503 (graphic novel)
Followed by The Mystery Knight


The Sworn Sword is a story by George R. R. Martin that first appeared in the Legends II anthology series, a collection of short stories by authors such as Tad Williams, Orson Scott Card, and Neil Gaiman. This is the second in the series of Dunk and Egg stories.

Story

Dunk has taken service with Ser Eustace Osgrey of Standfast. Ser Eustace has a conflict with his neighbour Lady Rohanne Webber. When Dunk and Egg return from a short journey to Dosk to get much needed supplies. They discover that the river has fallen dry. Because the region (as well as the whole land) is suffering from a terrible drought this means that Osgreys farmers will be hard pressed. Dunk and Ser Bennis, another hedge knight in the service of Ser Eustace, follow the riverbed upstream and discovers that workmen of Lady Rohanne have built a dam. When the workmen refuse to remove the dam Ser Bennis wounds one of them and drive them. The hedge knights return to Standfast and tell Ser Osgrey what has happened. The old man realizes that Lady Rohanne will see the wounding of one of her men as a slight on her honor. He orders Ser Bennis and Dunk to gather men from his three villages and to start training them to fight. Duncan hopes for another solution and is sent to Coldmoat to parley with Lady Rohanne and offer her bloodprice, an ancient form of weergeld.

As they meet Lady Rohanne Duncan realizes that some thing are different then he was told. Lady Rohanne is an pretty young woman, to whom he is attracted, instead of an old widow. The river was not Ser Eustace's but was granted by the king to House Webber for it's services in the Blackfyre Rebellion. It was taken from House Osgrey in punishment for their support of Daemon Blackfyre.

Dunk and Egg also learn that the lady has to remarry within a short time or loose her lands to a cousin as stated in her father's testament. Her father also tasked Ser Lucas 'Longinch' to protect her against unworthy suitors. Ser Lucas has interpreted this to shield her against all suitors and tries to get her to marry him.

The meeting does not end well. Lady Rohanne refuses to break up the dam or take the bloodprice. She demands that Ser Bennis will be turned over to her or else she will take him herself. Shocked and angered by all the revelations Ser Duncan wants to leave Osgrey's service. However as he realizes that the villagers will not stand a chance against Lady Rohanne's well armed soldiers he decides to stay.

The next morning Ser Osgrey, Duncan and Egg ride to the river. The meet Lady Webber and her small army. Ser Duncan asks and is granted a private parley with Lady Webber. He shows her Egg's ring, proving Egg is a prince of the blood. He cuts his own cheeks to make up for the wounding of her man. Lady Rohanne is impressed but still demands an apology from Ser Eustace who refuses. The parties decide to settle the matter in a fight between their champions. Duncan fights Ser Lucas and is able to kill him but almost drowns in the process.

When he wakes up Ser Eustace and Lady Rohanne have settled their differences and have married. Duncan is asked to remain at Standfast as their captain of the guard but refuses. Barely recovered he prepares to leave. Lady Rohanne meets him at the stables and offers her finest horse and her apologies. Dunk refuses booth but Rohanne demands that he take something of her. They kiss passionately and Duncan cuts her braid so that he will have something to remember her.